'Opening New Era of Nuclear Medicine in Asia'

Volume 1, Issue 1                                                                                November 2001           
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☞ Message from the Chairman

Dear distinguished members and colleagues,

I am very pleased and happy to announce that the ARCCNM (Asian Regional Cooperative Council for Nuclear Medicine) was officially created and new Homepage was launched. In the beginning of new millennium, the field of nuclear medicine has a chance to grow up again with the rapid spread of PET, cyclotron and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Korea became a leading country with the fourth largest number of the papers presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine in United States of America in the past 2000 and 2001.

For last more than 20 years, I have tried to do my best for promoting this field, nuclear medicine, in Korea, particularly by installing the first PET center in Seoul National University Hospital in 1994 and establishing the Korean Board of Nuclear Medicine in 1995. It is my great honor to become the President-Elect for the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, which was decided at the Delegate Assembly in Paris on August 5, 2000.

I am afraid to say that the future perspective of nuclear medicine is not so promising because we are standing against many competing modalities and procedures. I am sure that the next 10 years in new millennium must be very critical turning period for promoting of nuclear medicine and it will be a kind of survival game. My primary concern is what to do and how to do especially in developing and undeveloped countries like Asian Region. So, at the informal Delegate Assembly of AOFNMB, which was held on October 4, 2001 in Istanbul, all the members agreed on reforming the new organization, ARCCNM, which will be critical for the future development of nuclear medicine with special strategy and more integrated and coordinated activity in Asian areas.

In fact, most developing and undeveloped nations in Asia are lack of sufficient specialists, equipments, research funds and supports from their government. There is the AOFNMB (Asia & Oceania Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology), in which geographical and cultural heterogeneity exist. Recently, China, Japan and Korea have made a joint conference every other year. We intended to enhance the regional scientific activities by conferences, seminars and educational programs in liaison with the international organizations. Also, six task force groups are approved by the Executive Board, which are the nuclear oncology, neurology, cardiology, radionuclide therapy, general nuclear medicine and basic sciences. 3 chapters were created according to the location of member states in Asian Region, South East Asian Chapter, South Asia Chapter, and Far East Asia Chapter. The homepage and newsletter will be made soon to make an easy communication.

In order to achieve these goals, I am asking for all the members’ interest, dedication and contribution for successful ARCCNM activities.

Looking forward to your cooperation.

Chairman
Myung-Chul Lee, M.D.

☞ Executive Board Member

☞ Working Group Member

☞ Coordinator of Task-Force Group